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video game reviews

Nif Nif Review: A Family-Friendly Deckbuilding Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Nif Nif to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotions

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What is Nif Nif?

Nif Nif is the wholesome deckbuidling roguelike you need to buy for your kids.

A mysterious spreads through the forest, contaminating its animals and turning them into monsters. Luckily, Nif Nif knows the cleaning techniques to fight the corruption and save its friends. Build your deck with powerful deck, fight powerful monsters and their bosses, and eat a few tasty snacks along the way. Do you have what it takes to clean up this mess?

Gameplay

The game starts at character selection, which is hard. Players can either play as Nif Nif or Cat. Both characters are unreasonably cute, and the decks play unique with some fun flavor. Players then choose their path to the big boss, building their deck along the way. Like most games of the genre, players choose a node on their path where they can proct combat, a random event, a rest, or shop at the store. Players earn new cards, abilities, and items throughout the run as they build their deck for the final encounter. The card pool for each run is random, so players will never run the same deck twice. A run is over when they run out of health. The run is complete when a player beats the final boss. Players are incentivized to complete multiple runs by chasing unshockable like new cards, abilities, and cosmetics. What makes Nif Nif unique is that the player doesn’t kill enemies. Nif Nif cleans monsters, returning them to their original form and that is both cute and wholesome.

Review

I am so glad Nif Nif was funded when because this game is fantastic, especially if you want to get your kids into deck builders. The art is adorable, the concept is inoffensive, and the gameplay is engaging. It is designed for kids, so the strategy is on the easier side. I like that the difficulty can be adjusted for younger kids, but adults will find the hardest difficulty easy. That sad, I didn’t mind the lack of difficulty. There was still strategy involved, and the cozy vibe made the each run a pleasant and relaxing experience.

I don’t have anything bad to say about this game because it is a solid game, especially if you’re looking for something to play with your kids. I think the difficulty is going to be the deciding factor. If you like something like Slay the Spire, you will appreciate how cute and creative the game gets, but its never going to scratch that need for strategy. That said, the game is engaging enough to earn its attention, and the vibes make it the perfect game for those who want to game, but don’t want a huge commitment.

You can pick up Nif Nif on Steam for $19.99.

Board Games and TCGs

Doomlings Game Review: A Fun, Simple, Cute Card Game

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Doomlings base game to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Sponsored plug

If you’re looking to buy a bunch of board games or tcg product all at once, get it over at Game Nerdz. They have unbeatable prices (if you can hit the $75 for free shipping) and they have great service. It really helps me out, and can stock up on the games you need.

What is Doomlings?

Doomlings is a cute and simple card game for 2 to 6 players. Games last about 20-45 mins to play, and learning only takes about five minutes.

Players are on a race against time as they build the strongest Doomling before catastrophe destroys erases everything. Players use their collection of cards, called traits, to build a powerful gene pool before the end of the game. Traits give players abilities, but most importantly, points. There are also ages cards that change the rules of interaction each round. They can do things like change hand sizes or affect certain colors. Events can also be catastrophes, and drawing three catastrophes ends the game. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins. Use the official web app to tally scores easily.

What’s in the box?

  • 167 Unique Doomling Cards
  • Rulebook
  • Nice Box for Sleeved Storage

How to play

The official how-to-play video is the best resource to get you started. While the instructions are clear and the game is easy to learn, the video is invaluable.

Card Art

Catastrophe

Ages

Traits

Review

Doomlings is a very cute game that is worth looking into id you need something simple, quick, and a lot of fun.

The game comes in a good-sized quality box that will fit a sleeved deck and a few expansions easily. You are going to want to sleeve these cards. While the card and print quality is durable enough to survive the first few play through, the cards are a difficult to shuffle. The cards are textured, and the texture feels nice, but it prevents a bit of the randomization you can get with sleeves. A noticed a bit of damage after the first few shuffles, but I am also a crazy person who sleeves everything.

The artwork for this game is simple, thematic, and cute. I enjoyed that each color had a unique flavor without being too busy. The focus for a game like this should be the rules and interactions, and the art is good enough to see on the table. It is a really cozy feeling game considering the it deals with the end of the world.

Gameplaywise, the game is solid. I like that it is very easy to learn, and even easier to teach. Set up takes only a few minutes (including teaching), but I recommend you check out the official how-to-play video to fill any holes. The mechanics are sound and there is room for some sneaky strategy. You are going to hate a few of your friends, but you will have fun doing so. I like that no two games were ever the same, and my strategy always changed thanks to the draw and hand mechanic. I just wish I sleeved my cards before hand for a more randomized experience.

Doomlings is a fantastic game to pull out when you have company that doesn’t play many board games. There is enough strategy involved to keep things competitive without alienating the more casual gamer. The is very easy to learn, even if there is no prior board game experience. We had a lot of fun playing the game at our table, and I can guarantee it can find its place on any table.

You can pick up Doomlings on Amazon for $24.99 using my affiliate link.

Grand Archive TCG

Grand Archive: Diao Chan Re: Collection Deck List

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Introduction

Abyssal Heavey has officially released, and that means we finally have the Diao Chan Re:Collection deck list!

If you’re new, Re:Collection decks are Grand Archive’s premium product that come with a high quality deck box, dragonshield art sleeves, three packs special packs, and a competitive deck. The box also includes a play set of all the cards in the deck so you don’t need to buy multiple copies, unless you want to chase that sweet collector rare:

You can wait for opened boxes and the prices to dip, but historically, you aren’t saving much. Especially if the deck defines the meta like Silvie did. If you’re starting out, the hardest part is choosing what flavor you want but either deck is a solid place to start. Always support your LGS, but you can pick up the Guo Jia, Heaven’s Favored Re:Collection Deck on TCG Player through my affiliate link. Get in before you’re paying scalper prices.

Deck List

Materal Deck
1 x Spirit of Water
1 x Diao Chan, Enchantress
1 x Diao Chan, Dreaming Wish
1 x Diao Chan, Idyll Corsage
1 x Cleric Robes
1 x Glimmer Essence Amulet
1 x Scepter of Fascination
1 x Tariff Ring
1 x Crystalline Mirror
1 x Hairpin of Transcience
1 x Kaleidoscope Barrette
1 x Staff of Blossoming Will

Main Deck
3 x Fractal of Insight
2 x Idle Thoughts
3 x Shimmering Refraction
3 x Unstable Fractal
3 x Acquiescing Rejection
3 x Chill to the Bone
4 x Dissuading Halt
4 x Eventide Lure
3 x Fractal of Refreshment
2 x Frostbind
3 x Frostlorn Caress
3 x Frostnip Piroutte
2 x Glimmering Refusal
2 x Protective Fractal
1 x Redirect Flow
2 x Refracting Missile
2 x Torpid Fractal
3 x Bloom: Summer’s Glow
2 x Bloom: Winter’s Chill
3 x Blossoming Denial
2 x Ripples of Atrophy
3 x Season’s End
2 x Shriveling Vines

Material Deck (Visual)

Spirit of Water
Diao Chan, Enchantress
Diao Chan, Dreaming Wish
Diao Chan, Idyll Corsage
Cleric Robes
Glimmer Essence Amulet
Scepter of Fascination
Tariff Ring
Crystalline Mirror
Hairpin of Transience
Keleidoscope Barrette
Staff of Blossoming Will

Material Deck (Visual)

Fractal of Insight
Idle Thoughts
Shimmering Refraction
Unstable Fractal
Acquiescing Rejection
Chill to the Bone
Dissuading Halt
Eventide Lure
Fractal of Refreshment
Frostbind
Frostlorn Caress
Frostnip Pirouette
Glimmering Refusal
Protective Fractal
Redirect Flow
Refracting Missile
Torpid Fractal
Bloom: Summer’s Glow
Bloom: Winter’s Chill
Blossoming Denial
Ripples of Atrophy
Season’s End
Shivering Vines

Tokens

Lycoria
Nightshade
Baihua
Flowebud
Floodbloom
Grand Archive TCG

Grand Archive: Ascent Santa Clara Holiday Stream Recap

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Ascent Santa Clara was a very exciting event. Arisanna got her moment in the sun, and we got a lot of spoilers for some cool new product! If you need to pick up any Grand Archive, make sure to always support your LGS, but you can always pick up product on TCG Player using my affiliate link.

Table of Contents

Alchemical Revolution Alter Edition Spoilers

Alchemical Revolution is getting its alter edition with a few new cards to spice up the meta. Looks like Arisanna is getting a bit more support, but the ranger support doesn’t seem to bad.

Kongming Holiday Set

Get ready to empty your wallets this holiday season with the first ever holiday themed product. Kongming will be kicking things off with what is definitely going to be flying off the shelves. Make sure you put your preorder in on Christmas day!

The set includes:

  • Play set of Revitlizing Cleanse promo (3 non-foil and 1 foil with a chance the foil is a Collector Rare)
  • Revitalizing Cleanse Playmat
  • Acrylic Kongming Standee
  • Acrylic Kongming keychain
  • B2 Tapestry
  • Waterproof Sticker
  • Deckbox
  • Storage Box

Re:Collcection Lite

The Re:Collection decks are getting their reprints, but these won’t include the additional packs. This is wil be a great time to pick up what have been some strong and competitive decks without having to pay the scalper tax.

Abyssal Heaven

The Abyssal Heaven expansion set, which will be a smaller set than the base set, will release March 7th, so make sure you budget accordingly.

Mercurial Heart Alter Edition

If you missed out on Mercurial Heart, it is not too late. Mercurial heart is getting it’s own alter edition in May. This is the set that started it all for me, and I am very excited to see what new cards it will bring.

Gua Jia Deck Box

Now we shift to the competitive side of the game with Acent Utrecht deck box exclusive. Folks heading to Utrech on January 25 better get their VIP or Champion package to pick up this beautiful Gua Jia deck box. With how good the past exclusive deck boxes have been, you aren’t going to want to miss out.

Ascent Seattle Spirit

Worlds Announcement

Worlds 2025 has been announced for June 28th – 29th, so make sure you start making your grind towards Anaheim.

The Gauntlet

Those who don’t qualify for worlds will get their last chance on June 26th in a one day closed invite event. The top 16 players will qualify and I’m sure it will be grueling event.

2025 Full Schedule

M.Rage Collab

If you’ve been waiting for some official Grand Archive merch, an official collaboration with M.Rage is in the works, it is sounding promising. More information to come.

Board Games and TCGs

Hero Realms is the Fantasy Deck Builder that Delivers

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I was sent a free copy of Hero Realms to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review.

If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.

What is Hero Realms?

Hero Realms is a 2-4 player fantasy themed deck building game. Build your coffers, hire your heroes, cast your spells, and be the greatest hero in the realm. Can you build the deck to rule them all?

What’s in the box?

Hero Realms comes with 144 fantasy themed cards for the unique deck building game, an instructions manual and the 4 sets of life tracking cards.

How to Play

Players all start with the same basic deck and take turns buying cards for their deck, and attacking their opponents. The goal is to bring your opponents life to zero, and the last hero standing wins. The included instructions are fine, but here is a how to video by Watch it Played for you visual learners.

Review

Players will immediately notice the fantastic quality of this unique deck builder. The art on the cards is beautiful, the words are legible, and it is all printed on high-quality card stock. The cards also have a lovely texture that feels good to the touch and makes the game pop. The cards feel sturdy, but I still recommend sleeving since the game requires a lot of shuffling. All 144 sleeved cards do fit snugly in the box, which is a huge plus for this game.

The game is easy to pick up and teach, but I still recommend looking up a tutorial for some of the less intuitive rules. I like that there are additional rules for alternative game modes for variety, but I wish there was a solo variant for the times I can’t get a group together. The variants are fun, but I prefer the base game.

As far as deck builders go, you can’t go wrong with Hero Realms. The game has fantastic flavor, beautiful art, and a solid loop. There also seems to be a good amount of diversity in the available strategies. Of all the times I played the game, I never built the same deck twice. My only real complaint is the lack of solo play, but that isn’t a deal-breaker.

If you’re looking for a new deck builder with solid fantasty flavor, you can’t go wrong with Hero Realms. You can pick up the Hero Realms base game on Amazon for $23.95 using my affiliate link.

Board Games and TCGs

Star Realms Frontiers is a Great Deck Building Experience

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I was sent a free copy of Star Realms: Frontier to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

If you want to pick up Star Realms or any other board games at fantastic prices, get them over at Game Nerdz through my affiliate link.  

What is Star Realms: Frontier?

Star Realms: Frontiers is a 1-4 player deck-building card game. Gather your resources and build the best fleet in the galaxy. Loyalty to certain factions may help a player cement their place in the galaxy, but only those with the fastest, ships and abundant resources can rule it. Do you have what it takes?

What’s in the box?

Star Realms: Frontiers comes with 152 cards, including an 80-card trade deck and 8 oversized challenge cards for solo and cooperative play.

Quality

The quality is fantastic. This is a beautifully printed game with high-quality pieces. I am very happy with the weight and thickness of the cards, and they feel durable enough to survive a few years of consistent use. I sleeved them like a crazy person, but the sleeved deck fits snugly in the compact box for easy storage. I like to sleeve card games where I have to shuffle a lot to keep the cards in good condition and because it makes shuffling the decks easier.

Gameplay

Players will take turns spending and generating resources, and attacking their enemies. Each player and NPC starts with a set amount of Authority and the same basic deck. Authority is lost through combat. A player or NPC loses the game when Authority drops to zero. During a turn, players can cast cards that generate resources to buy ships, stations, or bases. Players can also summon units to attack.

As the game progresses, players will upgrade their decks. Building towards a certain faction can give players access to more power, but they are always at the mercy of RNG, especially in bigger games. While going in with a strategy is important, being flexible and adapting to the changes in the trade deck is what wins games.

For those who want to play alone or the group that needs a challenge, Star Realms: Frontiers comes with 8 challenge cards that successfully adjust the difficulty. Players have the freedom to adjust the game to their skill level, but also have access to the added flavor of each imaginative scenario.

How to Play

The instructions were a bit confusing, so I recommend looking up a guide. Whose Turn? does a decent job explaining the rules. I’ll leave his video bellow:

Review

I love deck builders and Star Realms: Frontiers does not disappoint. The art and flavor did a lot to attract me at first, but the gameplay kept me playing. I love that no two games were ever alike, nor did I ever use the same strategy twice. What I found impressive was that the game never felt solvable. I am sure this opinion will change with more play-throughs, but the game feels fairly balanced.

I don’t always have people to play with, so I appreciate the inclusion of a solo mode. Solo mode has players solve different scenarios. Players are given NPCs and rules on how to run them. If the encounter is too easy, the game provides additional challenges to help adjust the difficulty. Each scenario feels unique, and the challenges add enough depth to keep the game fun and interesting. You can run scenarios with your friends, but I don’t have to friend group to test this properly.

If you enjoy deck-building games, this is a fantastic and compact one to keep on your shelves. Setup is easy and the games go fast, but the onboarding can be a little tricky. Even for the experienced gamer, there is going to be some initial confusion. The game isn’t impossible to learn, but it does require a bit of extra effort. Once players can overcome this hurdle, Star Realms: Frontiers is a very good time. I recommend it to everyone.

You can pick up your copy of Star Realms: Frontiers on Game Nerdz (17.47) or Amazon ($29.99) through my affiliate links.

Grand Archive TCG

The Mortal Ambition CSRs are Going to Move Packs!

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The Mortal Ambition collector rares have been revealed, and you will want to chase these. I hope my preorder unearths one, but I am never so lucky. The set releases on October 11th. It is a little too late for preorders, but you can probably pick product up from your LGS at launch. You can also pick up Mortal Ambition on TCG Player, but I would wait til after launch for the prices to stabilize a bit. I’m hoping there is enough demand for a second printing because this set is going to be fantastic for folks trying to pick up the game for the first time.

If you’re looking for unique sleeves or deck boxes to keep your cards safe, get them over at Gem Accessories. Use discount code churapereviews10 at checkout for 10% off your order.

Grand Archive TCG

Grand Archive TCG: Mortal Ambition Season Promos Revealed!

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Ascent Singapore was this weekend, and we got some juicy spoilers. If you’re planning to play in the Mortal Ambition competitive season, the promos have been revealed.  

Revelfest Reminder

This is your friendly reminder that Revelfest is happening October 4th – 11th. This is your chance to earn some bonus veterancy and to win a copy of that beautiful Tariff Ring Alt. Only 200 lucky winners will get a copy, and you only need to play once to be entered. Playing in multiple events doesn’t increase your chances.

Judge Promo

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Ascendant

Ascent Top 32

Board Games and TCGs

Sherlock Solitaire is the Quick Card Game to Add to the Rotation

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I was sent a free copy of Sherlock Solitaire to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.

What’s Sherlock Solitaire?

Sherlock Solitaire is a 1-2-player card game where the player solves crimes as the famous literary detective. Can you navigate the clues and danger to solve the mystery at large?

What’s in the box?

  • 2 Reference Cards
  • 2 Detective Cards (Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson)
  • 2 Case Cards (“The Valley of Fear,” “The Final Problem”)
  • 1 Wound Card (minor wound on front, severe wound on back)
  • 32 Investigation cards (8 of each number 1-4)
  • 16 Threat Cards (4 of each letter A-D)

How to Play

  • 1. Take a Reference card.
  • 2. Take either Detective card. Place it text-side up.
  • 3. Choose a Case card or select at random. Place the card text-side up. For new players, we recommend “The Valley of Fear.”
  • 4. Shuffle all 32 Investigation cards (numbers 1-4) and all 16 Threat cards (letters A-D) together to create the deck. Place it face-down.
  • 5. Leave room for the discard pile. Cards will be placed on the discard pile face-up and may be reviewed at any time.
  • 6. Place the Wound card sideways, with the minor wound face-up.
  • 7. Leave plenty of room for the play areas, which include the Crime Scene on the left and the Office on the right.

The publisher also has a fantastic tutorial worth checking out.

Review

Sherlock Solitaire is a quick and easy game to pull out when you don’t want a huge commitment. The game is easy to learn but hard to master. The game comes in a neat compact package for easy storage unless you sleeve all your card games. While I do love the art and design of the box, I had to toss it because it didn’t fit the sleeve deck.

The cards themselves are of fantastic quality. The pictures are beautiful and printed on nice sturdy card stock. While I am sure it will survive a few hundred shuffles, I opted to sleeve mine because I am a crazy person who sleeves everything.

Games of Sherlock Solitaire are pretty quick, and a welcomed twist on the classic card game. You can pull this game out whenever you need a quick game away from a device, and it is engaging enough to keep you entertained through more than one play-through. I like that there are options for added difficulty for those who feel like they have mastered the game early on. I never did, but it was nice to have options.

This isn’t your normal game of solitaire. I think there are enough changes to this version to make it a fresh new and exciting experience for those who don’t like the classic game. The game also features fantastic flavor with some truly beautiful illustrations. Even if you’ve never read the books, you can appreciate the game’s look and gameplay. I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and simple solo game, and there are rules to add a second player if needed.

You can pick up Sherlock Solitaire for only $9.95 on Amazon using my affiliate link. There is also an app version for Android and IOS.

Other TCGs

Paragon: Monster & Mayhem Kickstarter Relaunches Oct. 1st!

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After a very successful Kickstarter campaign and a bit of community feedback, the people behind Paragon: Monsters & Mayhem have decided to relaunch a bigger and better campaign on October 1st. Mark your calendars. If you have backed the initial project, you should have gotten an email explaining the change. Original backers will also get 6 packs and a serialized Alt Art Flameskull card. If you’re looking for a new fantasy-themed TCG with creative gameplay, you’re going to want to check out Paragon: Monsters & Mayhem. Make sure you follow the Kickstarter to be notified when it goes live.

What is Paragon: Monsters & Mayhem

Paragon is a tactical TCG coming to Kickstarter on October first. Players face off against each other in a battle arena where they take control of a Paragon and their allies in an epic battle to the death. The game features creative movement, mana, and health mechanics making for interesting and creative interactions. if you want to play the game or help play test, make sure you join the official Discord server. It is pretty active and there are always people willing to play. Just make sure you have access to Tabletop Simulator and the official Paragon: Monsters & Mayhem module. Make sure you start with the Starter Deck Sample Module first though to see where you stand.

There will be an official Paragon Monsters & Mayhem Draft on Staturday August 31st at 6PM PST. This is a great chance to get together with the community and try out the game. Prizes:

  • 1st Place – 1 Golden Paragon Monsters & Mayhem Booster
  • 2nd Place – 2 Paragon Monsters & Mayhem Boosters
  • 3rd Place – 1 Paragon Monsters & Mayhem Booster

Gameplay

Rulebook

There isn’t an official rulebook yet, the game is still in production, but there is a quickstart guide available to get you started. The book is pinned on the official discord, but I’ll leave it below for your convenience.

Paragon_Quickplay_Instructions_8-16-2023Download

Changes in the Kickstarter

The new kickstarter is launching with 251 unique cards and alt arts to pad it out to 560. There will also be box topers, case topers, and some extra goodies. I’ll leave the graphic below for the full details.

Conclusion

I am interested because the art looks cool. Check out the cards revealed so far! I love the deep fantasy vibes and the flavor of the cards. I need to see more, but I am impressed with the art I’ve seen so far. I am also impressed by the developers. They seem to be incredibly involved with the community, and obviously listening to their listening to suggestions. If you’re looking for a new fantasy TCG, you might be looking for Paragon: Monsters & Mayhem. There is always risk in backing a Kickstarter, so make sure you do your own due diligence.

The campaign launches on October 1st. Make sure you’re following the campaign to be alerted when it goes live. The game was already fully funded once, I have no doubt they can do it again.